As time passes, more 007 collections get auctioned

First edition copy of 1953’s Casino Royale sold at auction

It’s the way of the world, as Lt. Columbo once said. When it comes to James Bond fandom, which dates back to 1953 (literary) and 1962 (cinema), collectors are deciding it’s time to cash in and find new homes for what they’ve acquired over the decades.

This blog has detailed a number of such sales over the years.

In 2010, there was an auction of John Griswold’s collection, which included a first-edition copy of Casino Royale, the first Bond novel, and Robert McGinnis artwork for Bond movie posters. That collection also included a Mort Drucker illustration of Ian Fleming. Griswold died in 2016.

In 2011, Doug Redenius of the Ian Fleming Foundation sold off his collection in a private sale, which included costumes from the Bond films along with various Bond-related games.

In 2015, collector Gary J. Firuta auctioned first-edition Bond novels (both U.K. and U.S. versions), page proofs and vintage movie posters.

Other collections are coming on the auction market. U.K.-based Ewbank’s has scheduled a two-part Bond auction of 007 items belonging to collector Steve Oxenrider. The first part will be in November, with the second in the spring of 2024.

Undoubtedly, there will be more sales and auctions in the coming years.